Taken in RAW colour at f/8, 1 sec exposure, ISO-100. Various layers added during processing to increase brightness, contrast etc.
If you like the blog then you can me on twitter @fototastic for behind the scenes photos, links and more.
Showing posts with label Lightbox. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lightbox. Show all posts
Monday, 23 January 2012
Bolt From The Blue
Here is a another photo using the home made lightbox.
Taken in RAW colour at f/8, 1 sec exposure, ISO-100. Various layers added during processing to increase brightness, contrast etc.
If you like the blog then you can me on twitter @fototastic for behind the scenes photos, links and more.
Taken in RAW colour at f/8, 1 sec exposure, ISO-100. Various layers added during processing to increase brightness, contrast etc.
If you like the blog then you can me on twitter @fototastic for behind the scenes photos, links and more.
Monday, 6 June 2011
Cherry Picking
No particular theme to this picture. Was just enjoying some black cherries the other day and had the camera to hand so took a few pictures.
As usual, click on the image to enlarge
As usual, click on the image to enlarge
Monday, 7 February 2011
I Love Cake
It was my birthday last week and I went out with some friends for a meal and some drinks to celebrate the occasion.
Two good friends got me a lovely Belgian chocolate cake and it was so nice I thought I'd capture it in a photo before I polished it all off!
The picture is actually made up of 3 photographs merged together within Photoshop.
As usual, click the image to enlarge
Two good friends got me a lovely Belgian chocolate cake and it was so nice I thought I'd capture it in a photo before I polished it all off!
The picture is actually made up of 3 photographs merged together within Photoshop.
As usual, click the image to enlarge
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Product Shots
A while back I did a load of product shots for the Beautiful You website.
It is nice to see that they have now started using some of them.
It is nice to see that they have now started using some of them.
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Vitamin Shot
With the weather getting colder and Swine Flu still hanging around, it might be time for a vitamin shot!
Monday, 16 March 2009
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Macros With Canon 450D
You will see from my blog that I am interested in all things macro. In England the weather isn't often great so indoor macro photography can be good to keep out of the elements!
Previously, I have always used my Canon Powershot S2 for this photography as it has excellent macro and 0cm focusing supermacro functions but since buying a Canon EOS 450D DSLR I've been interested in trying that out.
Macro lenses can be very expensive but I have read some good things about a cheaper equivalent. These are in the form of lens adapters which screw on to the filter threads of an existing lens and provide various levels of magnification allowing closer focusing. I spotted a set of these on eBay for about £15 and thought I'd give them a go. The set includes 4 adapters ranging from 1x to 10x magnification.
Here is a close up of one of these adapters plus a few of my first test shots.
Previously, I have always used my Canon Powershot S2 for this photography as it has excellent macro and 0cm focusing supermacro functions but since buying a Canon EOS 450D DSLR I've been interested in trying that out.
Macro lenses can be very expensive but I have read some good things about a cheaper equivalent. These are in the form of lens adapters which screw on to the filter threads of an existing lens and provide various levels of magnification allowing closer focusing. I spotted a set of these on eBay for about £15 and thought I'd give them a go. The set includes 4 adapters ranging from 1x to 10x magnification.
Here is a close up of one of these adapters plus a few of my first test shots.
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Pick up a Penguin
More fun with the DIY light box - This time with a stuffed toy. I will soon post some pictures of my light box setup...that will make you laugh as it's far from professional!
Saturday, 14 February 2009
Snowdrops
I keep seeing these snowdrops in my back garden and thinking that that I must take some photos of them. Quite apt considering the recent snow here! Saying that though, it has been nice sunny weather today so looks like spring might finally be approaching.
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
Nifty Fifty
I've had the 450D for around a month now and taken quite a few shots with it. I have found (as I'd previously read in reviews) that photos taken with the standard lens (Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS lens) are not always that sharp. This is not a huge problem as a little post processing generally solves the issue.
I have also been keen to get more in to portrait photography and am always impressed with shots taken with a very shallow depth of field. With that in mind I had already seen a low cost lens with a fairly wide aperture of f/1.8 and after reading some rave reviews and a sale on Amazon I snapped up a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II prime lens.
Yes it has a very plastic feel to it (with plastic mount) and does not seem very strong but a for under £70 I don't think you can go far wrong with this. The fixed focal length does not give you the flexibility of the kit lens so you have to move around a bit to get the composition that you are after but I think the shallow depth of field (see test shot below) and sharpness of images is more than worth a little extra effort. I've barely used the kit lens since getting this nifty fifty!
I have also been keen to get more in to portrait photography and am always impressed with shots taken with a very shallow depth of field. With that in mind I had already seen a low cost lens with a fairly wide aperture of f/1.8 and after reading some rave reviews and a sale on Amazon I snapped up a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II prime lens.
Yes it has a very plastic feel to it (with plastic mount) and does not seem very strong but a for under £70 I don't think you can go far wrong with this. The fixed focal length does not give you the flexibility of the kit lens so you have to move around a bit to get the composition that you are after but I think the shallow depth of field (see test shot below) and sharpness of images is more than worth a little extra effort. I've barely used the kit lens since getting this nifty fifty!
Friday, 3 October 2008
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
New Kit
Now that I've splashed out on the 450D I thought it was time to purchase some much needed accessories!
When it came to tripods I have generally gone for cheap and cheerful ones from places like eBay but have always wanted something a little more substantial. After trying out a few in the local camera shops I decided to opt for a Manfrotto Modo 785B at a cost of £50. It's a full height tripod which folds up to be reasonably compact (about 45cm) and fairly light but at the same time it's pretty study. I wasn't too sure about the hybrid joystick head but now I've used it a few times I really like it. It has a thumb lock and an option for video (panning up, down, left, right) then at the flick of a switch goes in to photo mode for full movement on the ball head. It also has 3 leg width settings for different applications which have already come in handy. All in all a nice piece of kit with excellent build quality.
I have also always wanted a shutter release remote (which I couldn't get for my old Powershot S2) as it avoids having to use the 2 second timer for low light shots to prevent camera shake. It's also great for self portrait shots which I've yet to try out! I found a Canon RC-1 in a local camera shop for the same price as they are on the Internet (around £15) so went for that. It's a tiny piece of kit but so far has worked very well. It has a slider switch to select either either 2 second or immediate shutter release and then the shutter release button to take the shot. Have found this very useful so far and can't imagine what I'd do without it now.
When it came to tripods I have generally gone for cheap and cheerful ones from places like eBay but have always wanted something a little more substantial. After trying out a few in the local camera shops I decided to opt for a Manfrotto Modo 785B at a cost of £50. It's a full height tripod which folds up to be reasonably compact (about 45cm) and fairly light but at the same time it's pretty study. I wasn't too sure about the hybrid joystick head but now I've used it a few times I really like it. It has a thumb lock and an option for video (panning up, down, left, right) then at the flick of a switch goes in to photo mode for full movement on the ball head. It also has 3 leg width settings for different applications which have already come in handy. All in all a nice piece of kit with excellent build quality.
I have also always wanted a shutter release remote (which I couldn't get for my old Powershot S2) as it avoids having to use the 2 second timer for low light shots to prevent camera shake. It's also great for self portrait shots which I've yet to try out! I found a Canon RC-1 in a local camera shop for the same price as they are on the Internet (around £15) so went for that. It's a tiny piece of kit but so far has worked very well. It has a slider switch to select either either 2 second or immediate shutter release and then the shutter release button to take the shot. Have found this very useful so far and can't imagine what I'd do without it now.
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
Happy Anniversary
Two of my very good friends Si and Rachel celebrated their first wedding anniversary at the start of the month....many congratulations to them.
As I like to do a little something when friends reach this first milestone I decided to have a think to see if I could come up for an original idea for a gift. On the tables during the meal on the wedding day there were little boxes wrapped up like presents with ribbon decorated with the bride and grooms name and the date of their marriage. In England I think these are for good luck and contain sugared almonds (I think!). Luckily I kept hold of mine from the day so dug out the old light box and went to work.
The final shot that I produced was printed then framed in dark. I was pleased with the result and the happy couple were also very happy with the gift.
As I like to do a little something when friends reach this first milestone I decided to have a think to see if I could come up for an original idea for a gift. On the tables during the meal on the wedding day there were little boxes wrapped up like presents with ribbon decorated with the bride and grooms name and the date of their marriage. In England I think these are for good luck and contain sugared almonds (I think!). Luckily I kept hold of mine from the day so dug out the old light box and went to work.
The final shot that I produced was printed then framed in dark. I was pleased with the result and the happy couple were also very happy with the gift.
Friday, 28 March 2008
New Mobile
My mobile contract was up for renewal just before Christmas and I had the usual dilemma of which new handset to go for.
I did the usual research reading online reviews etc and narrowed it down to a few models in the Nokia N Series or the new offering from LG...the Viewty. I was very drawn to the large touch screen and the camera on the Viewty so opted for that sacrificing the very handy built in Wi-Fi that the handsets that I was looking at in the Nokia N Series offered.
The phone itself and the touchscreen are pretty good although not as user friendly as the Sony Ericsson's that I've been used to.
After a few months I've still got mixed feelings about the camera. It takes pretty good photos on bright days but I'm not that impressed with the low light indoor shots (one of the selling points for the Viewty). The Xenon flash helps but with only the Auto, Red Eye or Off option it doesn't allow you to use it on every photo if required.
Benefits of the camera are Auto Focus, up to ISO 800, Image Stabiliser & 120fps video plus a lot of the functions that you would find on a compact digital camera.
Downsides are the lack of a lens protector / guard, flash settings in low level (mainly indoor) lighting and that you can't switch off the shutter sound even which sounds even when the phone is on silent.
Here are a couple of the better low light shots that I've taken with the Viewty...
Some of the pictures on previous posts have been taken using this this camera phone which you can view Here.
I did the usual research reading online reviews etc and narrowed it down to a few models in the Nokia N Series or the new offering from LG...the Viewty. I was very drawn to the large touch screen and the camera on the Viewty so opted for that sacrificing the very handy built in Wi-Fi that the handsets that I was looking at in the Nokia N Series offered.
The phone itself and the touchscreen are pretty good although not as user friendly as the Sony Ericsson's that I've been used to.
After a few months I've still got mixed feelings about the camera. It takes pretty good photos on bright days but I'm not that impressed with the low light indoor shots (one of the selling points for the Viewty). The Xenon flash helps but with only the Auto, Red Eye or Off option it doesn't allow you to use it on every photo if required.
Benefits of the camera are Auto Focus, up to ISO 800, Image Stabiliser & 120fps video plus a lot of the functions that you would find on a compact digital camera.
Downsides are the lack of a lens protector / guard, flash settings in low level (mainly indoor) lighting and that you can't switch off the shutter sound even which sounds even when the phone is on silent.
Here are a couple of the better low light shots that I've taken with the Viewty...
Some of the pictures on previous posts have been taken using this this camera phone which you can view Here.
Homemade Lightbox MK2
I found my original homemade light box bettered and dented in the back of a cupboard the other day so I set to work on creating a new and improved one as I haven't used the macro / super macro function on my camera in a while.
...and here she is in all her glory
Have taken a few shots using it so far...
Tablets
Retro Watch
Remember these!
...and here she is in all her glory
Have taken a few shots using it so far...
Tablets
Retro Watch
Remember these!
Thursday, 6 December 2007
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